Image forming system

ABSTRACT

A plurality of devices for reading document images are connected through a network. A master device and slave devices are set among the devices. Read conditions and image forming conditions are respectively notified to the slave devices by the master device. Each slave device reads an original document based on the read condition, and outputs the read image data attached with the image forming condition, to the print device. The print device prints image data from various read devices under the image forming conditions attached thereto, thereby to print image data from the plurality of read devices, integrated with each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image forming system which iscomprised of an input device and an output device connected by acommunication means and outputs input data from the input device to theoutput device, thereby to form images based on the inputted data.

Conventionally, proposals have been made for a method of outputtinginput data from a plurality of input devices to one output device and amethod for inversely outputting image data inputted from one inputdevice to a plurality of output devices (References 1. Japanese PatentApplication KOKAI Publication No. 8-289053, 2. Japanese Patent No.2998966, 3. Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 7-65145,and 4. Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 7-147615).

These proposals mainly has an object of improving the throughput incopying, and propose that the device to be used can be selected amongconnected devices (the references 1 to 4), status information of devicescan be transmitted and received (3 and 4), data input/output andcommunication control are possible between devices (4), and fixedaddresses are assigned respectively to devices (3).

These proposals have not been intended to improve image quality oroperation ability in copying in which different types of originals andalso different formats of outputs are mixed. Further, the proposals havenot been intended to integrate image data inputted from a plurality ofinput devices with respect to the references 3 and 4.

However, demands for improvement of image quality have progressed inaccordance with spreading of full-color copying machines. As a result,in the present situation, requirements for image attribute parametersand output processing styles to be specified with respect to an inputtedoriginal have rapidly increased. It is therefore difficult to achievecopying operation which satisfies all conditions concerning input imageattributes and input methods in one copying operation.

For example, it is difficult to carry out, by one operation, image inputoperation suitable for a case that a photograph-based original(photograph original) or a text-based original (text original) are mixedin a series of documents, that single-sided originals and double-sidedoriginals are mixed, or that originals having a deep back-ground colorlike news papers and originals having a white back-ground color aremixed.

With respect to output media, only output pages corresponding to aspecified original can be outputted but media such as OHP, thick paper,and the like are difficult to specify, in conventional techniques. Inpractice, however, as color originals have increased and image qualityhas progressed, requests are going to increase for using an outputmedium specialized for color at a specified part and using partially athick paper to prevent images on both sides of a double-sided image frombeing seen through from both sides.

With respect to output methods, it is difficult to perform double-sidedoutput or rotating output only with respect to a specified range oforiginals.

A measure for solving these problems is a method in which input imagesare classified for every input means, output medium, and output style,copying suitable for every attribute is carried out, and manualintegration is carried out after completion of all operation. However,this measure accompanies very complicated labor, and remarkably lowersthe throughput.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has an object of providing a copy operationenvironment capable of easy and rapid setting and of obtaining an outputresult with high image quality in copying in which conditions concerningthe types of original documents, instructions of output media, andoutput methods which are going to become more various are mixed, in anenvironment in which a plurality of image input devices and imageforming devices are connected through a network, control signals can betransmitted/received between any of the devices, a master-slaverelationship is specified between the devices, thereby to monitoroperation status of the slave devices from the master device and toenable setting of operation parameters.

Also, in conventional cases where a specific function cannot be selecteddue to a combination of devices, screen operation is generally carriedout such that the menu itself is hatched on each menu screen so thatselection cannot be achieved. However, in a case where a plurality ofimage forming devices and input devices are connected and operationparameters thereof are specified from the master device, there is aprecondition that the same parameters as those of the master device, andtherefore, limitations are generally added to operations so that themenu might not be changed, the operation screen of a slave device to bespecified.

The present invention has been made in view of this point. Amaster-slave relationship is provided between a plurality of inputdevices connected by any communication means such as a network or thelike. Slave devices are controlled from a master device, andsimultaneously, control parameters are partially rendered changeable inthe side of the slave devices. In addition, an output medium and anoutput style are specified for every slave device, thereby to provide anenvironment more suitable for various input original documents andmedia.

As flexibility has been improved in the input side, it has becomenecessary for the output side to integrate image data from various kindsof input devices and to make output processing corresponding to imageattributes thereof. The present invention proposes a control method forsolving these problems, thereby to provide a copying environment withrich variety throughout the input and output.

According to the present invention, an image forming system constructedby a plurality of device connected comprises: a first device having atleast a read function to read an original document image, a settingfunction to set a processing condition with respect to image data thusread, and a transmission function to process and transmit the originaldocument image read under the processing condition set by the settingfunction; and a second device connected to the first device and having achange setting function to change the processing condition set by thesetting function of the first device, of the original document imagereceived from the first device, upon receipt of the original documentimage transmitted from the first device, and an image output function toperform processing on the original document image under the processingcondition changed by the change setting function, thereby to output animage.

According to the present invention, an image read system in which aplurality of first devices having at least a read function to read atleast a original document image, and a second device having at least asetting function to set a read condition are connected through acommunication channel, wherein each of the first devices has a readfunction to read the original document, based on the read conditionsupplied from the second device, and the second device has setting meansfor setting a read condition for the read function of each of the firstdevices, and an interface for outputting the read condition set by thesetting means to each of corresponding one or ones of the first devices.

According to the present invention, an image read system in which aplurality of first devices having at least a read function to read atleast a original document image, a second device having at least asetting function to set a read condition, and a third device having atleast an image forming function to form an image based on image data, ona medium where an image is to be formed, are connected through acommunication channel, wherein each of the first devices is comprised ofa scanner for reading the original document image, based on the readcondition supplied from the second device, and a first interface foroutputting the image data read by the scanner to the third device,together with an image forming condition of the image data supplied fromthe second device, to the third device, the second device is comprisedof setting means for setting a read condition for the read function ofeach of the first devices, and individual image forming conditions forimage data, respectively corresponding to the first devices, and asecond interface for outputting the read condition set by the settingmeans to each of corresponding one or ones of the first devices, and thethird device has an image forming device for forming an image based onimage data supplied from the first devices, on an image forming mediumwhere an image to be formed, based on the image forming conditionsupplied together with the image data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a view showing a structural example of an image formingsystem;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing a structural example of the inside ofthe color image forming device;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the system structure of the colorimage forming device;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an operation panel of the color image formingdevice;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of a touch panel displayin the operation panel;

FIGS. 7 to 9 are views showing examples of parameter check screens inthe side of a slave device;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of functional modules whichconstruct an input device;

FIG. 11 is a view showing an area management image of image data storagepart in the side of a master device;

FIGS. 12 to 17 are views showing examples of actual setting of themanagement information recording part in the master device.

FIGS. 18 to 21 are views showing examples of actual setting of themanagement information recording part in a slave device;

FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram showing the control procedure between amaster device and slave devices when inputting an image;

FIGS. 23 and 24 are views showing device status display screens;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of forming a network with otherdevices in an initialization sequence;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the control procedure in the totalcontrol part;

FIG. 27 is a processing flowchart showing the control procedure when astatus change message is received in the total control part;

FIGS. 28 to 31 are copy control processing flowcharts in the totalcontrol part when specifying a master device;

FIGS. 32 to 34 are copy control processing flowcharts in the totalcontrol part when specifying a slave device;

FIGS. 35 to 37 are processing flowcharts in the display control part;

FIG. 38 is a control flowchart in the display control part when updatinginformation of input parameters;

FIGS. 39 and 40 are flowcharts showing the print processing procedure inthe input/output operation control part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following, an image forming system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are conceptual views showing a structural example of theimage forming system.

In the image forming system, a plurality of input devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c,1 e, 1 f, . . . such as a scanner, a personal computer, a digitalcopying machine (an image forming system), and the like are connectedthrough a network 2.

The input device (ID: 0) 1 a is constructed by a digital copying machinewhich has a function as an output device, and includes a page memory 2,a large-capacity memory device 3 such as a HDD or the like, and aprinting device 4.

The input device (ID: 5) 1 f includes a page memory 2, and alarge-capacity memory device 3 such as a HDD or the like.

In the example of this figure, the input device (ID: 0) is specified asa master device, and the input devices (ID: 1 to 4) 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, and 1e are specified as slave devices. The printing device 4 uses a printingfunction of the master device. This figure shows that the input device(ID: 5) 1 f is not used.

Image data inputted from the input devices (ID: 1 to 4) 1 b, 1 c, 1 d,and 1 e is once stored into the large memory device 3 such as the HDD orthe like of the master device 1 a, In the example shown in the figure,image data of the slave devices (ID: 1 to 4) 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, and 1 e iscoded data and can be stored into the HDD 3 without passing through thepage memory 2 of the master device 1 a. Image data inputted by themaster device 1 a is coded through the page memory 2 and is stored intothe HDD 3.

In print outputting, coded image data is once read out and developedonto the page memory 2, and is then outputted through the printingdevice 4.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a structural example of the internal structureof the digital copying machine (e.g., a multifunction-type copyingmachine, and a composite-type image forming device).

At an upper part of the device body 10, an automatic document feeder(hereinafter abbreviated as an ADF) 17, which serves also as a documentcover and automatically feeds sheet-like originals one after =another,is provided to be freely opened/closed. Provided at a front part of theupper surface of the device body 10 is an operation panel 90 comprisingvarious kinds of operation keys and display devices for instructing copyconditions and start of copying. This operation panel 90 will beexplained in details later.

Provided in the right side of the device body 10 are a paper feedcassette 57 with a small capacity capable of containing papers, and acassette 55 having a large capacity capable of containing papers. Also,the paper feed cassette 57 comprises a manual tray 56 for manuallyfeeding papers.

Paper feed cassettes 12, 53, and 54 are detachably provided at a lowerpart of the device body 10. Papers of one same size are contained inthese cassettes, oriented in lateral and longitudinal directions, sothat papers can be selected upon necessity. Provided in the left side ofthe device body 10, a finisher 80 for receiving copied papers.

Below the operation panel 90 on the front surface of the device body 10below, there is provided an insertion port (not shown) for inserting amagneto-optical disk as a storage medium for storing image data and thelike, and a magneto-optical disk device is provided inside the body.

Provided on the back surface of the device body 10 are a parallel port(not shown), a serial port (not shown), a SCSI (not shown), and thelike. The parallel port connects the device with an external device suchas a PC (personal computer) or the like, when the device operates as aprinter. The serial port connects the device with an external devicesuch as a PC (personal computer) in order to read internal managementinformation of the device and to set functions of the device duringmaintenance of the device. The SCSI performs command/data communicationbetween the device and an external printer controller (not shown).

In the device body 10, there are provided a scanner part 11 as anobtaining means for obtaining image data to realize the copying functionand the facsimile function, and a printer part 12 as an image formingmeans.

Provided on the upper surface of the device body 10 are a document mounttable 13 made of transparent glass where a read target, i.e., anoriginal document D is set, and an ADF 17 which automatically feeds thedocument onto the document mount table 13. This ADF 17 is provided to beopenable/closable with respect to the document mount table 13 and alsofunctions as a document presser.

The ADF 17 comprises a document tray 8 where the original document D isset, an empty sensor 9 for detecting presence or absence of an originaldocument, a pickup roller 14 for picking up original documents one afteranother from the document ray, a paper feed roller 15 for feeding thepicked-up original document, a pair of aligning rollers 16 for aligningthe top end of the original document, an aligning sensor (not shown)provided in the upstream side of the pair of aligning rollers 16 todetect arrival of the original document, a size sensor (not shown) fordetecting the size of the original document D, and a conveyer belt 18provided so as to cover substantially the entire of the document mounttable 13. Further, a plurality of sheets of an original document arepicked up sequentially in the order from the lowermost page of theoriginal document, i.e., from the last page thereof. The last page isaligned by the pair of aligning rollers 16 and is thereafter conveyed toa predetermined position of the document mount table 13 by the conveyerbelt 18.

In the ADF 17, a reversal roller 20, a non-reversal sensor 21, a flapper22, and a paper feed-out roller 23 are provided at an end part in theside opposite to the pair of aligning rollers 16 with the conveyer belt18 interposed therebetween. A sheet of the original document D fromwhich image information has been read by the scanner part 11 describedlater is fed out from above the document mount table 13, and isdischarged onto the document feed-out part 24 on the upper surface ofthe ADF 17.

Also, in case of reading the back surface of an original document D, theflapper 22 is switched over so that the original document D is reversedby the reversal roller 20 and is then fed to a predetermined position onthe document mount table 13 again by the conveyer belt 18.

The ADF 17 also comprises a paper feed motor for driving the pickuproller 14, paper feed roller 15, and pair of aligning rollers 16, and aconveyer motor for driving the conveyer belt 18, reversal roller 20, andpaper feed-out roller 23.

The scanner part 11 provided in the device body 10 includes a lightsource 25 such as a fluorescent light or the like for illuminating theoriginal document D set on the document mount table 13, and a firstmirror 26 for deflecting reflection light from the original document Din a predetermined direction. The light source 25 and the first mirror26 are attached to a first carriage 27 provided below the document mounttable 13. Provided on the first carriage 27 is a size sensor 28 fordetecting the size of an original document set on the document mounttable 13. The first carriage 27 is set on the document mount table 13such that the carriage is movable in parallel with the document mounttable 13, and is reciprocally moved below the document mount table 13 bya drive motor through a toothed belt or the like not shown.

Also, a second carriage 29 which is movable in parallel with thedocument mount table is provided below the document mount table 13.Attached to the second carriage 29 are second and third mirrors 30 and31 for deflecting reflection light from the original document Ddeflected by the first mirror 26, such that these mirrors 30 and 31 areset perpendicular to each other. The second carriage 29 is moved as aslavery to the first carriage 27 by a toothed belt or the like fordriving the first carriage 27, and is also moved in parallel along thedocument mount table 13 at a half speed of the first carriage.

Below the document mount table 13, there are provided an imaging lens 32for converging reflection light from the third mirror 31 on the secondcarriage 29, and a CCD sensor 34 for receiving and photoelectricallyconverting the reflection light converged by the focus lens. The imaginglens 32 is provided in the place including the light axis of lightdeflected by the third mirror 31 such that the imaging lens is movableby a drive mechanism. The imaging lens itself moves thereby convergingthe reflection light into an image of a desired magnification. Further,the CCD sensor 34 photoelectrically converting the entering reflectionlight and outputs an electric signal corresponding to an originaldocument D.

Meanwhile, the printer part 12 comprises a laser exposure device 40which operates as an exposure means. The laser exposure device 40comprises a semiconductor laser 41 as a light source, a polygon mirror36 as a scanning member for deflecting sequentially laser light emittedfrom the semiconductor laser 41, a polygon motor 37 as a scanning motorfor rotating and driving the polygon mirror 36 at a predeterminedrotation speed described later, and an optical system 42 for guiding thelaser light from the polygon mirror 36 to photosensitive drums 44 a to44 d. This kind of laser exposure device 40 is fixed to and supported bya support frame (not shown) of the device body 10.

The semiconductor laser 41 is controlled to be turned on/off inaccordance with image information of the original document D read by thescanner part 11. This laser light is oriented to each of photosensitivedrums 44 a to 44 d through the polygon mirror 36 and the optical system42, thereby to scan the peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive drums44 a to 44 d, so that electrostatic latent images are respectivelyformed on the photosensitive drums 44 a to 44 d.

The image forming part 12 has freely rotatable photosensitive drums 44 ato 44 d as image carriers provided at the substantial center of thedevice body 10, and desired electrostatic latent images are respectivelyformed on circumferential surfaces of the photosensitive drums 44 a to44 d, exposed by laser light from the laser exposure device 40.

Respectively provided around the photosensitive drums 44 a to 44 d areelectrification chargers 45, . . . for charging the circumferentialsurfaces of the photosensitive drums 44 a to 44 d, developing devices46, . . . for supplying toner as a developing agent for electrostaticlatent images formed on the circumferential surfaces of thephotosensitive drums 44 a to 44 d thereby to develop the images at adesired image density, separation chargers 47, . . . for separating atransfer material supplied from the paper feed cassettes 52, 53, 54, 55,or 57, i.e., a copy paper P to which the images are to be transferred,transfer chargers 48 for toner images formed on the photosensitive drums44 a to 44 d to the paper P, separation nails (not shown) for peelingthe copy paper from the circumferential surfaces of the photosensitivedrums 44 a to 44 d, cleaning devices 50, . . . for cleaning tonerremaining on the circumferential surfaces of the photosensitive drums 44a to 44 d, and dischargers for discharging the circumferential surfacesof the photosensitive drums 44 a to 44 d.

The paper feed cassettes 52, 53, and 54 each of which can be drawn outof the device body 10 are provided and layered at a lower part of thedevice body 10. Copy papers of different sizes are respectively stockedin the cassettes 52, 53, and 54. In the side of these cassettes 52, 53,and 54, a paper feed cassette 55 of a large capacity is provided, andcopy papers of a size frequently used, e.g., about 3000 sheets of A4size, are contained in the paper feed cassette 55 of the large capacity.A paper feed cassette 57 which serves also as a manual-insertion tray 56is equipped detachably above the large capacity paper feed cassette 55.

In the device body 10, conveyer paths 58 which extends from thecassettes through a transfer part positioned between the photosensitivedrums 44 a to 44 d and the transfer charger 48 is formed, and a fixingdevice 60 is provided at a tail end of the conveyer paths. A dischargeport 61 is formed in the side wall of the device body opposed to thefixing device 60, and a finisher 80 is attached to the discharge port61.

Pickup rollers 63 each of which picks up papers one after another fromcassettes are respectively provided near the paper feed cassettes 52,53, 54, 55, and 57. In addition, a large number of pairs of paper feedrollers 64 for conveying copy papers P picked up by the pickup rollers63 through the conveyer paths are provided for the conveyer paths 58.

On the conveyer paths 58, pairs of resist rollers 65 are provided in theupstream side of the photosensitive drums 44 a to 44 d. The pairs ofresist rollers 65 correct inclination of the picked-up copy paper P,align the top ends of toner images with the top end of the copy paper P,and supply it to the transfer part at the same speed of the speed atwhich the circumferential surfaces of the photosensitive drums 44 a to44 d move. In front of the pairs of resist rollers 65, i.e., in the sideof the paper feed roller 64, there is provided an aligning sensor 66 fordetecting arrival of a copy paper P.

Each of the copy papers P which have been picked up one after anotherfrom the cassettes by the pickup rollers 63 is fed to a pair of resistrollers 65 by the pairs of paper feed rollers 64. The top end of eachcopy paper P is aligned by the pair of resist rollers 65 and isthereafter fed to the transfer part by the conveyer belt 67.

At the transfer part, developer images formed on the photosensitivedrums 44 a to 44 d, i.e., toner images are transferred to the paper P bythe transfer chargers 48. The copy paper P to which the toner imageshave been transferred are peeled from the circumferential surfaces ofthe photosensitive drums 44 a to 44 d by operation of the separationchargers 47 and separation nails (not shown) and are conveyed to thefixing device 60 by the conveyer belt 67 forming part of the conveyerpaths 58. Further, the developer images are melted and fixed to the copypaper P by the fixing device 60, and thereafter, the copy paper P is letpass through the discharge port 61 to the discharge tray 81 of thefinisher 80 by the pair of paper feed rollers 68 and the pair of paperfeed-out rollers 69.

An automatic double-siding device (ADD) 70 for reversing each copy paperP which has passed through the fixing device 60 and feeding it again tothe pair of resist rollers 65 is provided below the conveyer path 58.The automatic double-siding device 70 comprises a temporary stock part71 for temporarily stocking copy papers P, a reverse path 72 branchedfrom the conveyer paths 58 for reversing each copy paper P which haspassed through the fixing device 60 and for guiding it to the temporarystock part 71, a pickup roller 73 for picking up one after another ofthe copy papers P stocked in the temporary stock part, and a paper feedroller 75 for feeding the picked-up paper through a conveyer path 74 tothe pair of resist rollers 65. Also, a distribution gate 76 forselectively distributing copy papers P to the discharge port 61 or thereverse path 72 is provided at a branch part between the conveyer path58 and the reverse path 72.

In case of performing double-sided copying, each copy paper P which haspassed through the fixing device 60 is introduced to the reverse path 72by the distribution gate 76, and is temporarily stocked in the temporarystock part 71, kept reversed. Thereafter, each copy paper P is fed tothe pair of resist rollers 65 through the conveyer path 74 by the pickuproller 73 and the pair of paper feed rollers 75. Further, each copypaper P is aligned by the pair of resist rollers 65 and thereafter fedagain to the transfer part where toner images are transferred to theback surface of the copy paper P. Thereafter, each copy paper isdischarged to the paper feed-out tray 81 of the finisher 80 through theconveyer path 58, the fixing device 60, and the paper feed-out roller69.

Also, each paper can be discharged with its printed side orienteddownwards by using this automatic double-siding device 70. That is, inthe same manner as that of performing double-side copying, images aretransferred and fixed to the surface of a paper, which is thentemporarily stocked into the temporary stock part 71. The paper is thenpassed through the conveyer path 74 by the pickup roller 73 and the pairof paper feed rollers 75, and is aligned by the pair of resist rollers265. Thereafter, the paper is discharged to the paper feed-out tray 81through the conveyer path 58, fixing device 60, and discharge 69.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the control system ofthe digital copying machine described above.

This digital copying machine is constructed by a system CPU 100, a flashROM (for program and data storage) 101, a font ROM 102, a non-volatileRAM (NVRAM) 103, a DRAM (for work area and data storage) 104, a scannerinterface (SIF) 105, an image processing unit (IPU) 106, a printerinterface (PIF) 107, the scanner part 11 described previously, theprinter part 12 described previously, an image bus 108, a system bus109, a page memory unit 111, and a HDD unit 112.

The printer part 12 describe above is connected to a printer controller(PRNC) 110 through a channel, and the printer controller 110 isconnected to the network (LAN) 2.

The system CPU 100 serves to control the entire digital copying machineand controls respective functions in accordance with instructionsthrough the operation panel 90, signals inputted through communicationchannels, and signals inputted through various external interfaces, inthis case.

The scanner interface (SIF) 105 is an interface for receiving image datafrom the scanner part 11.

The image processing unit (IPU) 106 is an image processing part forperforming image quality processing, magnification/reduction processingand pixel suppression processing in compliance with the printer part 12,and image edit processing such as whiting of a specified area dependingon detection of a marker.

Each of these devices is connected through the image bus 108, andcontrol signals between the system CPU 100 and each device are exchangeat a high speed through a system bus 109.

This image bus 108 is a bus which is provided uniquely for the presentdevice operating as a copying machine. In order to guarantee real-timeoperation of the copying machine, operation of receiving image datainputted from the scanner part 11 through the SIF 105, operation ofperforming high-image quality processing, magnification/reductionprocessing, and various edit processing by the IPU 106, and operation ofprint-outputting by the PIF 107 are carried out in parallel (calledbasic copying). Among boards connected to the image bus 108, processingboards unnecessary for the operations on time are brought into bypassstatus.

Also, the printer controller (PRNC) 110 has an interface to the printerpart 12 which controls the image-forming function during copying andprinter operation, and is also connected to the network 2 describedabove through a device such as a NIC (Network Interface Card) or thelike. The controller 110 receives print data through the network 2 froma device such as an external PC or the like, buffers the data, andperforms protocol control, transfer control, data compression control,and data expansion control to transfer data to the printer part 12.

The page memory unit 11 is constructed by a page buffer for storingtemporarily image data inputted from the scanner part 11 and image dataread from the HDD unit 112 during printing, a compression/expansioncircuit for compressing or expanding image data, various ASICs androtation buffers for performing rotation processing on image data at90°, 180°, 270° and the like.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the operation panel 90. As shown in thefigure, the operation panel 90 is provided with a touch panel display91, a start key 92, a stop key 93, a clear key 94, ten-keys 95, a key 96for selecting document-size/cassette, LEDs 97 for indicating theselected document-size/cassette, a copy magnification setting key 98, anoperation mode selection key 99 for selecting the operation mode such asFAX or printer, and the like. Also, the ten-keys 95 are arranged in thesame layout as that of buttons of the push-phone.

For example, in case of making five copies, the menu on the touch-paneldisplay 91 is switched to copying, and desired processing (double-sidedcopying or the like) is selected. Thereafter, the key “5” of theten-keys 95 is pressed. This number is then displayed in a specific areaon the touch panel display 91. After a user checks it, the user sets anoriginal document and pushes the start key 92. Copying operation is thenstarted.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of the control system ofthe touch panel display 91 described above.

The touch-panel display 91 is constructed by a CPU 120, a ROM (forprogram storage and data storage) 121, a DRAM (for operation and datastorage) 122 as a work RAM, a VRAM 123 as a display RAM, a touch panelcontroller 124, and a display controller 125.

The CPU 120 controls the entire touch panel display 91. The touch paneldisplay 91 is constructed by layering the touch panel 126 on the liquidcrystal display 127. On the touch panel 126, a transparent resistancematerial is uniformly applied and a group of transparent electrodes arearranged thereon in parallel at predetermined intervals in the X and Ydirections.

In the touch panel 126, a voltage is sequentially applied to transparentelectrodes of the X and Y directions in constant directions, undercontrol of the touch panel controller 124. Operation for instructing aposition on the touch panel 126 is carried out by a specializedconductive pen or a finger. The touch panel controller 124 monitors theresistance values between the electrodes in the X and Y directions, anddetects a position where a resistance value is locally lowered, by meansof calculation from the resistance values between the electrodes.

In addition, the liquid crystal display 127 is connected with a displaycontroller 125 for driving display thereof, and a display RAM (VRAM) 123for storing display data in units of display pixels.

In the touch panel display 91 constructed as described above, positiondata obtained by the touch panel controller 124 is read by the CPU 120and processing corresponding to this position data is executed also bythe CPU 120. For example, in case of input by hand-writing, data on theVRAM 123 corresponding to the position specified on the touch panel 126is reversed from non-displayed status into displayed status. The touchpanel display 91 can be used for wide applications, e.g., input ofoperation parameters by selection through keyboard display displayed onthe liquid crystal display 127 and various groups of setting buttons.

FIGS. 7 to 9 are views showing examples of parameter confirmationscreens displayed in the side of slave devices (1 b to 1 f) through aprocedure shown in FIG. 38 and explained later, with respect tooperation conditions specified by the master device (1 a).

As shown in these figures, parameters are displayed in form of lists,classified into image attribute information (read condition) as anoperation condition, output medium information (image formingcondition), and output style information (image forming condition).Parameters that can be changed are displayed in form of icons and areallowed to change. Parameters that cannot be changed are displayed withthe icon frames indicated as dot lines thereby to clarify the contentsof the parameters.

The image attribute information is a condition concerning documentreading and specifies density information, document type informationsuch as photograph document, text document, or the like, and adjustmentvalue information used when correcting gammas.

Output medium information is a condition which specifies the type of acopy paper, such as a thick paper, a color-specialized paper, a normalpaper, OHP, or the like.

Output style information is a condition for printing output andspecifies printing on one surface of the copy paper, printing on bothsurfaces of the copy paper, rotation of image data, reversal of imagedata, regular or reverse order of plural pages of image data, and thelike.

Displayed as the image attribute information are the input method, colormode, document mode, density adjustment, document size, magnification,color adjustment, edit, and the like, as shown in FIG. 8. In this case,with respect to the input method, “ADF” and “change” are displayed withcontinuous lines, indicating that it is changeable. With respect to thecolor mode, “full-color” and “change” are displayed with continuouslines, indicating that its is changeable. With respect to the documentmode, “photograph” and “change” are displayed with continuous lines,indicating that it is changeable. With respect to the densityadjustment, “automatic density” and “change” are displayed withcontinuous lines, indicating that it is changeable. With respect to thedocument size, “A4” and “change” are displayed with continuous lines,indicating that it is changeable. With respect to the magnification,“71%” and “change” are displayed with continuous lines, indicating thatit is changeable. With respect to the color adjustment, “no adjustment”and “change” are displayed with continuous lines, indicating that it ischangeable. With respect to the edit, “black/white reversal” and“change” are displayed with continuous lines, indicating that it ischangeable. Also, with respect to the edit, “no instruction” and“change” are displayed with continuous lines, indicating that it ischangeable. Also, with respect to the edit, “binding margin” and“change” are displayed with broken lines, indicating that it is notchangeable.

Displayed as the output medium information are the type of output mediumand the paper feed source, as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, withrespect to the output medium, “thick paper 1” and “change” are displayedwith continuous lines, indicating that it is changeable. With respect tothe paper feed source, “first cassette” and “change” are displayed withbroken lines, indicating that it is not changeable.

Displayed as the output style information are the rotation output,double-side output, finish, and sort mode, as shown in FIG. 9. In thiscase, with respect to the rotation output, “90°” and “change” aredisplayed with continuous lines, indicating that it is changeable. Withrespect to the double-side output, “single side” and “change” aredisplayed with continuous lines, indicating that it is changeable. Withrespect to the finish, “staple” and “change” are displayed with brokenlines, indicating that it is not changeable. With respect to the sortmode, “sort” and “change” are displayed with broken lines, indicatingthat it is not changeable.

FIG. 10 shows a functional module structure constructing the inputdevice of the present invention.

The digital copying machine is constructed by a total control part 130,a machine condition management part 131, a display control part 132, aninter-external-device data transfer control part 133 for data transferbetween external devices, input/output operation control part 134, ascanner control part 135, a printer control part 136, an image datastorage part 137, and a management information recording part 138.

In this figure, the scanner control part 135 is constructed by imageprocessing units for pre-processing, such as a scanner part 11, ascanner control ASIC, scanner control firmware for performing scannerdrive control, ADF (Auto Document Feeder) control, and the like, and animage processing unit for pre-processing such as shading processing orthe like.

The printer control part 136 is constructed by a printer part 12, aprinter control ASIC, an image processing ASIC for the output side,printer operation control firmware for performing printer control, paperfeed control, and the like during printing, and image processingfirmware for the printer side. The printer control part 136 has aninterface to the printer controller 110 and performs commandcommunication for control commands and status, and communication controlof print data. Also, the part 136 performs control for executing printoutput of both the image data inputted from the scanner part 11 andimage data transmitted from the printer controller 110.

Each of the scanner control part 135 and the printer control part 136has a control CPU and realizes high-speed control. These parts performscommand-status communication with the system CPU 100 shown in FIG. 4 andcontrols display and synchronous operation of the scanner part 11 andprinter part 12. Thus, copying operation and print output operation arerealized as a whole of the device.

The input/output operation control part 134 includes an image processingunit 106 and also has interfaces to the scanner control part 135 and theprinter control part 136. Using an operation start command received fromthe total control part 130 as a trigger, the input/output operationcontrol part 134 performs drive timing control of the scanner part 11and the printer part 12 and simultaneously calculates and sets imageprocessing parameters in the image processing unit 106, thereby tocontrol the copying function. The timing control means, for example,drive timing of the ADF 17, scanner drive timing, decoration processingof an image developed on a memory, instruction of print start timing,instruction of input start timing of a next document, and the like. Inaddition, hold/release commands concerning printer resources received bythe display control part 132 are notified to the printer control part136.

The display control part 132 is constructed by the operation panel 90 ofthe present device as explained in FIGS. 5 and 6, and display controlsoftware for controlling the panel. In this case, operation informationof the operation panel 90 is informed to the total control part 130, andvarious conditional changes occurring in the device are received asinformation from the machine condition management part 131 and arereflected on display. In addition, information concerning results andprocess of processing, such as copying results, the number of copy sets,size information, and the like, is received from the total control part130 and is reflected also on display. This reflection method meansspecifically lighting of LEDs on the operation panel 90 and display ofmessages on the LCD 127.

The total control part 130 further monitors continuously the operatingconditions of the entire device and executes exclusive control ofresources commonly shared by a plurality of functions, e.g., by thescanner part 11 and the printer part 12, priority operation betweencopying and print data printing, screen switching operation, and thelike. For example, the total control part 130 inhibits print dataprinting for a predetermined time period, in case where a plurality ofscreens are being operated and in case where copying is renderedexecutable with priority. Inversely, upon starting of print dataprinting, the total control part 130 switches the screen to displaywhich indicates “printing” and restricts execution of copying. Inaddition, the total control part 130 performs time control of timermonitoring or the like, and also performs appropriately control ofswitching the menu with respect to the display control part 132.

The machine condition management part 131 monitors the condition of themachine notified from the scanner control part 135 and the printercontrol part 136, for example, the part 131 monitors informationconcerning paper jamming, jam release, open/close of the front cover,and the like, and notifies the total control part 130 and the displaycontrol part 132 of it thereby to reflect the error status on display orreflect it on determination of ability or inability to execute copyingoperation.

In addition, machine recovery operation after releasing an error orending a job is managed by instructions from the total control part 130.In this case, the recovery operation means preparatory operation forcarrying out next copying, e.g., initialization of an indicator positionof the scanner part 11, warming-up operation of the heat roller part,and the like.

The inter-external-device data transfer control part 133 includes a LANI/F includes a LAN I/F part and is constructed by a scanner part 11 anda printer part 12 connected through LAN or communication controlsoftware for control signals and image data to make communication with adigital copying machine. The LAN I/F part is constructed by a NIC(Network Interface Card), a buffer memory, and the like.

The management information recording part 138 of the master device isconstructed by an image file management table 138 a, a copyattribute/style/medium information table 138 b, a device managementtable 138 c, and a print device management table 138 d.

The management information recording part 139 of the slave device isconstructed by an input operation management table 139 a, a copyattribute/style/medium information table 139 b, a device managementtable 139 c, and a print device management table 139 d.

FIG. 11 shows a conceptual view of image data transferred from a slavedevice to a master device and managed by the image data storage part137. Image data transferred from a slave device to a master device isstored into an area fixedly and previously maintained on the image datastorage part 137 of the master device. Information such as page numbers,ID numbers, and master/slave described in the figure is managed by thecopy attribute/style/medium information table 138 b shown in FIGS. 13and 14.

FIG. 11 shows that pages of an inputted image data file are mechanicallyintegrated and are finally treated as on input original document,considering image data as having been inputted in the order of IDnumbers assigned to all input devices including the master device. Forexample, the device assigned with ID: 0 responds to pages up to 31 fromthe top, and the device assigned with ID: 1 responds to pages next 32pages thereof, and the device assigned with ID: 2 responds to furthernext 41 pages, with respect to an input document of 108 pages.

FIGS. 12 to 17 show installation examples of the management informationrecording part 138 in the master device.

As shown in FIG. 12, page numbers of image data inputted by each inputdevice and operation conditions of copy operation itself are set in theimage file management table 138 a, and a print device is set if a printdevice is specified.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12, JOBID “0x01”, input device information“0x0C”, page number (device 0) “0x1F”, page number (device 1) “0x20”,page number (device 2) “0”, page number (device 3) “0x29”, page number(device 4) “0”, page number (device 5) “0”, page number (device 6) “0”,page number (device 7) “0”, input operation status “inputting”, totalpage “0x68”, and output device specification “0x05” are registered.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, operation condition parameters (operationcondition information) set for every image forming device and everyinput device are stored in the copy attribute/style/medium informationtable 138 b. With respect to these information items, contents set bythe master device are sent to the side of the slave device, as has beenexplained in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 28 to 31 and FIGS. 32 to 34,and items are changed in the side of the slave device. Copy attributeinformation/output medium information/output style information is thensent from the slave device to the master device prior to image datatransmission, and is stored into this table. Further, this informationis sent to the print device prior to image data transmission when aprint device is specified, and is referred to when print output iscarried out.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, image attribute information,medium information, and output style information for each input deviceare registered. The image attribute information is comprised of an inputdevice number, JOBID, file name, page number, document size,magnification, color, black, format such as JPEG or the like, densityadjustment, color adjustment, edit, edit, edit, photograph, and modesuch as text or the like. Medium information is comprised of a mediumsuch as thick paper, normal paper, or the like, and paper feed source.The output style information is comprised of a rotation output,double-side output, finish, and sort mode. Manual, cassette, or the likeis registered as a paper feed source.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, input device number “0x00”,JOBID “0x01”, file name “1 0***.jpg”, page number “0x1F”, input method“ADF”, document size “A4”, magnification. “71”, color or black “color”,format “JPEG”, density adjustment “automatic density”, color adjustment“no adjustment”, edit “white-black reverse”, edit “biding margin”, edit“no instruction”, mode “photograph”, medium “thick paper”, paper feedsource “first cassette”, rotation output “90°”, double-side output.“single”, finish “staple”, and sort mode “sort” are registered.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, information of each of image formingdevices and input devices connected to a network is stored into thedevice management table 138 c. Devices communicate with each other withrespect to these information items as initial information when devicesstart operation, and devices exchange information and store obtainedinformation. Each device broadcast a status change to all devices whenthe operation status such as operating, waiting, working, machine error,or the like changes. Each device updates received information. Inaddition, in case of master/slave device information, informationconcerning the number of inputted pages, or error occurrence, errorinformation or the like is stored. Display of the device status displayscreen shown in FIG. 23 is updated with reference to information storedin this table.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, input device number, operationstatus, error number, inputted page number, IP address, PWD, option,memory size, device identification ID, specification of a master/slavedevice, and specification of an output device are registered for eachinput device. Input device number “0x00”, inputted page number “0x1F”,IP address “192.168.***”, PWD “****”, option “ADF”, memory size “3 GB”,device identification ID. “0”, and specification of an output device“0x00” are registered. The operation status described above will be “inuse”, “working”, “error status”, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 17, performance information and operation status asprint device performance information, error status, output mediuminformation, and the like are stored in the print device managementtable 138 d. With respect to this information, information which is sentfrom a print device when a print device is specified is stored.

For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the output device number “0x05”,operation status “empty”, color performance “full color”, error number“0x00”, output page number “0xFF”, IP address “192.168.***”, PWD “****”,on/off of double-siding device “ON”, on/off of staple “ON”,possible/impossible of rotation output “possible”, memory capacity “3GB”, size of large capacity paper feed cassette “A4”, first cassettesize “A4R”, first cassette medium “NORMAL”, second cassette size “A3”,second cassette medium “NORMAL”, third cassette size “A4”, thirdcassette medium “THICK PAPER”, fourth cassette size “B4”, fourthcassette medium “NORMAL”, manual insertion paper feed size “A4”, andmanual insertion paper feed medium “COLOR-ONLY PAPER” are registered.

FIGS. 18 to 21 show an installation example of a management informationrecording part 139 in a slave device.

As shown in FIG. 18, JOBID, master device information, inputted pagenumber, operation status, error type, slave device instruction, andmaster device instruction are registered in the input operationmanagement table 139 a.

For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the JOBID “0x01”, master deviceinformation “0x00”, inputted page number “0x0F”, operation status “INUSE”, error type “0xFF”, slave device instruction “0x01”, and masterdevice instruction “0x00” are registered.

Operation condition parameters set for every device are stored in thecopy attribute/style/medium information table 139 b, as shown in FIG.19. The contents set by the master device are sent to the side of slavedevices, and setting items are changed in the side of the slave devices.

For example, as shown in FIG. 19, image attribute information, mediuminformation, and output style information are registered. The imageattribute information is constructed by input device number, JOBID, filename, page number, original document size, magnification, color orblack, format such as JPEG or the like, density adjustment, coloradjustment, edit, edit, edit, and mode such as text, photograph, or thelike. The medium information is constructed by a medium such as thickpaper, normal paper, or the like, and a paper feed source. The outputstyle information is constructed by rotation output, double-side output,and sort mode. Manual insertion, cassette, or the like is registered asa paper feed source.

Input device number “0x00”, JOBID “0x01”, file name “1 0***.jpg”, pagenumber “0x01”, input method “ADF”, original document size “A4”,magnification “71”, color or black “COLOR”, format “JPEG”, densityadjustment “AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT”, color adjustment “NO ADJUSTMENT”,edit “WHITE/BLACK REVERSAL”, edit “BINDING MARGIN”, edit “NOINSTRUCTION”, mode “PHOTOGRAPH”, medium “THICK PAPER”, paper feed source“FIRST CASSETTE”, rotation output “90°”, double-side output “SINGLE”,finish “STAPLE”, and sort mode “SORT” are registered.

As shown in FIG. 20, information concerning image forming devices andinput devices connected to the network is registered in the devicemanagement table 139 c, like the device management table 138 c. Devicescommunicate with each other with respect to these information items asinitial information when devices start operation, and devices exchangeinformation and store obtained information. The same information as thatof the device management table 138 c described above is registered inthe device management table 139 c.

As shown in FIG. 21, print device performance information, operatingstatus, error status, output medium information, and the like are storedin the print device management table 139 d, like the print devicemanagement table 138 d. This information is stored as print deviceinformation is notified from the master device when specifying a slavedevice. The same information as that of the print device managementtable described above is registered in the print device management table139 d.

In the side of a slave device, the parameter confirmation screens asshown in FIGS. 7 to 9 are prepared and displayed, with reference to theinformation.

FIG. 22 is shows the flow of controls between the master device andslave devices. In this figure, the input device (0) is a master device,and input devices (1) and (3) are used as slave devices. This figurealso shows that the input device (2) is being used for another purpose.

When the input device (2) is used, a status change of the input device(2) is notified (at a in FIG. 22), and display of the input device (2)is reversed, as an input device being used, as shown in the left upperside in the figure and as shown in the display of the operation panel 90in FIG. 23.

If free input devices (1) and (3) are selected, a control right isobtained (indicated at b in FIG. 22 and a step 45 of “input devicesecure requirement” to a step 46 in FIG. 29). If it is usable, ACK(acknowledgement) is notified to the master device from the input device(1) and (3) (indicated at c in FIG. 22 and at a step 91 in FIG. 32). Inthis manner, displays of the input devices (1) and (3) are reversed onthe operation panel 90 which indicates the device use status of theinput device (0).

Subsequently, the input device (0) notifies its operation conditions(print device performance and image input parameters) to the inputdevices (1) and (3) which have been specified as slaves (indicated at din FIG. 22 and in steps 47 to 48 in FIG. 29). In this manner, operationconditions are registered in the input devices (1) and (3) (in steps 94to 95 in FIG. 32). After this registration, ACK is notified to the inputdevice (0) from the input devices (1) and (3) (indicated at e in FIG. 22and in steps 97 and 98 in FIG. 32).

At this time, the operating conditions notified from the input device(0) are displayed as parameter confirmation screens by the operationpanels 90 of the input devices (1) and (3). The conditions are listedand displayed, classified into image attribute information, outputmedium information, and output style information.

Also, in the sides of the input devices (1) and (3), a change is made ifthere is a setting change. For example, setting of “FULL COLOR” ischanged to “BLACK” by pressing “CHANGE” corresponding to the color mode,on the parameter confirmation screen of the image attribute informationin FIG. 8.

The contents of this change is notified to the input deice (0) from theinput devices (1) and (3) (indicated at f in FIG. 22 and in steps 109 to111 in FIG. 33).

Thereafter, image input is started, i.e., image data is inputted fromthe input devices (1) and (3). Upon completion of inputting of imagedata for one page, this image data is transferred to the input device(0) from the input devices (1) and (3) (indicated at g in FIG. 22 andsteps 112 in FIG. 33). When transfer of the image data for one pageends, End of Page is notified to the input device (0) from the inputdevices (1) and (3) (indicated at h in FIG. 22 and in a step 116 in FIG.34).

After the notification of the End of Page, the input device (0) performserror correction processing or the like on the supplied image data forone page, and registration is made into the image data storage part 137.At this time, the input device (0) notifies the input devices (1) and(3) of information indicating OK of transfer of the image data(indicated at i in FIG. 22).

This is repeated until all pages end. Upon completion of input andtransfer of all pages, End of File is notified to the input device (0)(indicated at j in FIG. 22 and a step 118 in FIG. 34).

After the notification of the End of File, the input device (0), theinput device (0) performs error correction processing and the like onthe supplied image data for one page, and registration is made into theimage data storage part 137. At this time, the input device (0) notifiesthe input devices (1) and (3) of information indicating OK of transferof the image data (indicated at k in FIG. 22).

Then, the input device (0) releases control rights of correspondinginput devices (1) and (3) (indicated at 1 in FIG. 22 and in a step 68 inFIG. 31), i.e., releases the specification of the input device (1) and(3) as slave devices (in steps 119 to 122 in FIG. 34).

FIG. 23 is a view showing a structural example of a machine statusdisplay screen in the master device. This example shows that the device2 is operating at present, the devices 7 and 8 are in a non-registered(non-detected) status, and the other input device, copying machines, andprint devices are brought into a usable status. If devices to be usedare selected, they enters into secured status (i.e., using status) bythe sequence as shown in FIG. 22, so that displayed icons are reversed.

FIG. 25 shows an example of forming a network with other devices in aninitialization sequence.

This figure shows that the power is turned on in the device (0), thedevices (1) to (5) are previously registered in the device (0), and thedevice (5) is not yet started.

At first, when the power of the device (0) is turned on, an InitialCommand is supplied to all of the devices (1) to (5). The devices (1) to(5) initialize their communication information with the device (0) whichhas sent the Initial Command and notify the device (0), as a sender, ofcondition of themselves as Engine Status. Upon receipt of the EngineStatus, the device (0) notifies all the devices option information thathave replied, Error information, and the like of itself, as InitialStatus.

In this example, since the device (5) is not started, it has not repliedand two retrials are made. If no reply is made even to the two retrials,it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the network or thatthe power source has not been turned on. No communication is then madeuntil an Initial Command is received from the device (5) and thecommunication status is initialized.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the control procedure in the side of thetotal control part 130 at the starting time.

When the total control part 130 is started, it executes initializationof the system. System initialization means a total name of an initialsequence including initialization processing for the device itself suchas initialization of a parameter table used in common by respectivemodules, semaphore formation, H/W options attachment check processing,hard disk data clean-up, and the like which are necessary beforestarting operation, and operation environment formation such asformation of network connection. FIG. 25 shows an example of the flow ofnetwork connection formation in the initial sequence.

At first, when the system is initialized (ST1), the total control part130 waits for a message (ST2) and selects appropriate processing incorrespondence with the kind of the message sent from another module.

When the status of a device changes (ST3), e.g., when there is an Errorstatus occurrence/release such as paper jamming, when a status change ofanother device is received, when an operation status of a device changes(operating, waiting, pausing, working, or the like), or when a messageof start/end of heating status of a fixer heater of a device isreceived, the total control part 130 performs message receipt processingfor an operating status change as shown in FIG. 27 (ST4).

When a command related to master device control is received (ST5), thetotal control part 130 performs receipt processing for receiving a copycontrol message to specify a master device, as shown in FIGS. 28 to 31(ST6).

When a command related to slave device control is received (ST7), thetotal control part 130 performs receipt processing for receiving a copycontrol message to specify a slave device, as shown in FIGS. 32 to 34(ST8).

When another message is received, processing is appropriately selected(ST9). However, this case is not substantially related the presentinvention and will therefore be omitted from the explanation.

FIG. 27 is a processing flowchart showing a control procedure whenreceiving a status change message in the total control part 130.

Upon receipt of Error occurrence from the machine status control part131 (ST11), the total control part 130 instructs the display controlpart 132 to make Error display (ST12). Subsequently, the total controlpart 130 notifies the Error status to other devices connected to thenetwork (ST13) and updates the operation status in the device managementtable 138 c. Then, the procedure returns to the step 2.

When an operation status change such as pressing-down of the operationpanel is notified from the machine status management part 131 and thedisplay control part 132 (ST14), the total control part 130 notifiesother devices of the operation status likewaiting/operating/working/pausing (ST15), and updates the operationstatus of the device management table 136 c (ST16).

Next, in case where a status change of another device is receivedthrough an inter-external-device data transfer control part 133 (ST17),the total control part 130 updates the operation status of the devicemanagement table 138 c (ST18), notifies the display control part 132 ofthe status change of another device (ST19), and then returns to the step2. Although not shown in the figures, the display control part 132updates display, depending on the notification, if status of anotherdevice is displayed.

Upon receipt of an Error release (ST20), the total control part 130notifies the display control part 132 of the Error status release(ST21), updates the operation status of the device management table 138c, and instructs the machine status management part 131 to performrecovery processing for the device (ST22). The recovery processing for adevice means a release check by a sensor, heating of a fixing device,resetting of the scanner part 11, resetting of a transfer unit, and thelike. Next, the total control part 130 notifies each device connected tothe network that it is being recovered (ST23), and then returns to thestep 2.

FIGS. 28 to 31 show processing flowcharts when copy control is performedin the total control part 130 in case where a master device isspecified.

When a master device is specified (ST30), the total control part 130sets a master device flag in the device management table 138 c (ST31)and returns to the step 2. Also, in case where no master device flag isset (on) in the device management table 138 c, the total control part130 returns to the step 2.

IF a master device flag is set (on) in the device management table 138 cin the step 32 described above, the total control part 130 notifiesother devices that it has become a master device (ST33). In this manner,the other devices can be used as slaves.

If a print device is specified by the display control part 132 after thenotification in the step 33 (ST34), the total control part 130 instructsthe specified print device to the inter-external-device data transfercontrol part 133 (ST35). If a response based on this instruction isreceived (ST36) and the print device can be secured (ST37), the totalcontrol part 130 updates the device management table 138 c (ST38) andreceives print device performance information (ST39). The total controlpart 130 sets the received print device information in the print devicemanagement table 138 d (ST40). Subsequently, the total control part 130notifies the display control part 132 of completion of securing of theprint device (ST41).

If a response based on an instruction in the step 35 cannot be receivedafter elapse of a predetermined time (ST42), the total control part 130notifies the display control part 132 of impossibility to secure theprint device (ST44).

If the print device cannot be secured in the step 37, the total controlpart 130 notifies the display control part 132 of impossibility tosecure the print device (ST44).

After the notification in the step 44, the procedure returns to the step2.

If the display control part 132 gives an instruction to secure the inputdevice after the notification in the step 33 (ST45), the total controlpart 130 instructs the inter-external-device data transfer control part133 to secure the input device (ST46). Subsequently, the total controlpart 130 notifies image input parameters and print device performancewhich are set in the copy attribute/style/medium information table 138 b(ST47 and 48).

If a response is received (ST49) after this notification and thecorresponding device can be secured (ST50), the total control part 130updates the device information of the device management table 138 c(ST51) and notifies the display control part 132 of completion ofsecuring the corresponding input device (ST54). The procedure thenreturns to the step 2.

If no response is received even after elapse of a predetermined time inthe step 49 (ST53), the display control part 132 is notified ofimpossibility to secure the input device (ST54), and the procedurereturns to the step 2.

If it is impossible to secure the corresponding input device in the step50, the display control part 132 is notified of impossibility to securethe input device (ST54), and returns to the step 2.

If a transmission start request (receipt of a data transfer request) ofinputted image data is received from an input device specified as aslave through the inter-external-device data transfer control part 133after the notification in the step 33 (ST55), the total control part 130obtains input image attribute information, output medium information,and output style information (ST56, 57, and 58) sent through theinter-external-device data transfer control part 133. Subsequently, thetotal control part 130 updates the copy attribute/style/mediuminformation table 138 b (ST59), depending on the obtained input imageattribute information, output medium information, and output styleinformation. Further, the total control part 130 updates the operationstatus of the device management table 138 c during operation (ST60).

If it is possible to receive data (ST61) after the update, the totalcontrol part 130 notifies the slave device of the possibility to receivedata (ST62), and returns to the step 2. Also, if it is impossible toreceive data (ST61), the slave device is notified of the impossibilityto receive data (ST63), and returns to the step 2. The case ofimpossibility to receive data is, for example, a case that the masterdevice falls into error status.

After the notification in the step S33, transmission for one page iscompleted. If End of Page is received (ST64), the total control part 130carries out Error correction processing (details of which will beomitted herefrom) (ST65), and updates the image file management table138 a, copy attribute/style/medium information table 138 b, and devicemanagement table 138 c (ST66). The procedure then returns to the step 2.

If End of File is received (ST67) when receipt of data of all pages iscompleted after the notification in the step 33, the total control part130 releases resources of the input device which has transmitted thecorresponding data (ST68). Subsequently, the total control part 130updates the image file management table 138 a, copyattribute/style/medium information table 138 b, and device managementtable 138 c (ST69).

Thereafter, when End of File is received with respect to all of theinput devices (ST70), the total control part 130 notifies start of datatransfer to a print device (ST72) if a print device is specified (ST71).If a reply based on this notification is received (ST73) and datatransfer from the print device is possible (ST74), the total controlpart 130 notifies the print device of the contents of the image filemanagement table 138 a and the copy attribute/style/medium informationtable 138 b (ST75). Subsequently, the total control part 130 transfersall of the print data to the print device (ST76).

When transfer of all the print data to the print device is completed(ST77), the total control part 130 specifies the master device, releasesspecification of the print device, and notifies another input device ofthe status (ST78).

If no print device is specified in the step 71, the total control part130 outputs data through a digital copying machine of its own, andtherefore makes registration into the print-wait QUE in a table notshown. Processing is then terminated (ST78) and returns to the step 2.

If no response is received to the notification of start of data transferin the step 72 even after elapse of a predetermined time (ST73 and 79),the total control part 130 notifies the display-control part 132 oferror display of the print device (ST80), and returns to the step 2.

If normal completion of image transfer to the print device is receivedafter the notification (ST82), the total control part 130 releases thestatus of the master device and the specification of the print device,completes then all of the input processing (ST83), and returns to thestep 2.

If nothing is received after the notification in the step 33, the totalcontrol part 130 returns to the step 2, too.

FIGS. 32 to 34 are flowcharts showing copy control processing in thetotal control part 130 when a slave device is specified.

When a slave device is specified (ST91), the total control part 130obtains print device performance and image input parameters for inputoperation, which are notified from the master device (ST92). If it is instatus capable of accepting the device as a slave device (i.e., instatus in which Error or the like does not occur or it is not used)(ST93), the total control part 130 updates the copyattribute/style/medium information table 138 b and the print devicemanagement table 138 d (ST94 and 95) as shown in FIGS. 18 to 21.Further, the total control part 130 controls the display control part132 and updates the screen display to the display of slave status shownin FIGS. 7 to 9 (ST96). Possibility to accept a slave is notified to themaster device (ST97). If it is impossible to accept a slave, the totalcontrol part 130 notifies the master device of the impossible acceptanceas a slave device (ST98), and returns to the step 2.

If possibility to start reading an original document is received fromthe master device, the possibility to start reading is notified to thedisplay control part 132, and lock of the start key shown in FIGS. 7 to9 is released.

When start of inputting is instructed from the display control part 132(ST100), the total control part 130 notifies the input/output operationcontrol part 134 in FIG. 10 of the instruction to start inputting(ST102) if it is possible to start inputting (ST101). Also, the totalcontrol part 130 updates the status of the device management table 139 cto wording (ST103), and notifies each device of the status change(ST104). The part 130 then returns to the step 2.

If it is determined that start of inputting is impossible due to somefactor such as Error or the like in the step 101 described above, thetotal control part 130 notifies the display control part 132 of theimpossibility to start inputting, as an Error display, (ST105) and thenreturns to the step 2.

Upon completion of inputting one page (ST106), the total control part130 requests start of data transfer (ST107) to the master device. If areply indicating possibility to transfer data is received in response tothis request (ST108), the total control part 130 transmits the imageattribute information of inputted image data, output medium informationspecified at the time of inputting, and the output style informationspecified also at the time of inputting, to the master device (ST109,110, and 111). The total control part 130 subsequently transmits theinputted image data to the master device (ST112).

If a reply indicating the possibility to transfer data cannot bereceived in response to the request for starting data transfer in thestep 107, the total control part 130 instructs the display control part132 to display Error and ends the processing (ST114).

Upon completion of transfer of image data for one page (ST115), thetotal control part 130 transmits End of Page to the master device(ST116). If transmission of all the page data ends (ST117), the totalcontrol part 130 transmits End of File to the master device (ST118).

If release of resources is notified from the master device (ST119),display of the display control part 132 is recovered to a normal mode(ST120), and the status of the device management table 139 c is changedto waiting status (ST121), thereby to notify each input device of thestatus change (ST122).

FIGS. 35 to 37 are flowcharts showing the processing in the displaycontrol part 132.

If initialization of the display control part 132 is instructed in theinitialization processing in the total control part 130 (ST131), thedisplay control part 132 performs generation of a display screen andinitialization processing or the like of each internal table (ST132),and then returns to the step 2.

When update of status display is instructed (ST133), the display controlpart 132 obtains information of the device management table 138 c (139c) (ST135) and updates the device status display (ST136) if a statusdisplay screen is displayed (ST134). The procedure then returns to thestep 2. If the status display screen is not displayed in the step 134,the display control part 132 returns to the step 2.

When a master device is specified (ST137), the display control part 132notifies the specification of the master device to the total controlpart 130 (ST138). Next, the display control part 132 switches thedisplay to a status display screen of another input device or a printdevice connected through the network (ST139), and then returns to thestep 2.

When a slave device is selected on the status display screen (ST140),the display control part 132 requests the total control part 130 tosecure a specified device if there is a specification of a slave device(ST141). When a device can be secured (ST142), the display control part132 reverses the display of the secured device and clearly indicatesthat the device is secured (ST143). The procedure then returns to thestep 2. If no device can be secured (ST142), the display control part132 displays a warning message indicating the impossibility to securethe device (ST144), and then returns to the step 2.

If a message related to Error display is received from the machinestatus management part 131 (ST145), the display control part 132performs Error status display (ST146). This message includes Erroroccurrence, Error release, start of device status recovery processing atthe time of Error release, and the like. Detailed explanation of thismessage will be omitted because it does not particularly relate with thepresent invention.

Next, if specification as a slave device is notified from the totalcontrol part 130 (ST147), the display control part 132 switches thedisplay to the operation condition display screen in the side of theslave device, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 (ST148). A display procedure indisplay of an input condition check screen will be shown in details inFIG. 38.

Also, when input condition parameters are changed when specifying aslave device (ST149), the display control part 132 updates display inaccordance with the procedure shown in FIG. 38 (ST148).

If start of inputting an original document is instructed (ST150), thedisplay control part 132 notifies the total control part 130 of thestart of inputting (ST151), locks the screen operation until end ofinput processing (ST152), and then returns to the step 2.

When completion of inputting one page is notified (ST153), the displaycontrol part 132 updates the display contents such as the number ofinputted pages (ST154). Upon completion of inputting all pages (ST155),the display control part 132 releases display of securing slave devices(ST157) in case of a master device (ST156), and further releases thelock of the screen operation (ST158).

In case of a slave device in the step 156 described above, the displaycontrol part 132 receives release of the input device (ST159),thereafter switches the display to a normal input screen (ST160), andreleases the lock status of the screen operation (ST158).

FIG. 38 shows a flowchart of the control in the display control part 132when updating the image input parameters.

When update of display of image input parameters is instructed, thedisplay control part 132 classifies image attribute information, outputmedium information, and output style information, as shown in FIGS. 7 to9, and obtains operation condition information in the master device,from the copy attribute/style/medium information table 139 b (ST161).Further, the display control part 132 obtains print device performanceinformation from the print device management table 139 d shown in FIG.21 (ST162). Types of display parameters, conditions defined in themaster device, and print device performance information are comparedwith each other (ST163). With respect to those parameters that aredetermined to be changeable on the display, screen data expressingpossibility to update parameters is prepared and displayed (ST164), asshown in FIGS. 7 to 9. With respect to those parameters that aredetermined to be impossible to change, not icons but only the contentsof the parameters are displayed (ST165).

The determination whether a change is possible or impossible depends onthe points (1) conditions specified by the master device are prior withrespect to functions (a sort/staple function, a binding function, andthe like) in which data of the master device and input data at a slavedevice must be dealt with unitarily, and (2) conditions decided underparticular conditions (paper feed source information when a particularoutput medium is specified and the like). Functions that are notsupported by a print device and output medium information which is notsupported are rendered non-selectable.

Upon completion of preparation and display of image data (ST166) withrespect to all parameters, the processing is completed and returns tothe step 2.

FIGS. 39 and 40 are flowcharts showing the control in the input/outputoperation control part 134 when printing is carried out.

To start printing, the input/output operation control part 134 obtainsthe device status of the print device specified to perform printing orthe image forming device (ST171). The device status specifically meanspresence/absence of Error occurrence or a job being executed. If it isimpossible to start printing, the processing is ended and a next printstart timing is waited.

Subsequently, if it is possible to start printing (ST172), theinput/output operation control part 134 confirms print waiting QUEstatus (presence/absence of a job waiting for printing) (ST173). Ifthere exists a print-waiting job (ST174), the input/output operationcontrol part 134 obtains output image attribute information, outputstyle information, and output medium information shown in FIGS. 12 to 17(ST175). If a specified condition is impossible to execute (ST176), theinput/output operation control part 134 notifies the display controlpart 132 of the print device of a warning message indicating theimpossibility to start printing, and ends the processing (ST177). A nextprint start timing is then waited. In this manner, the display controlpart 132 displays a warning message indicating the impossibility tostart printing.

If conditions specified in the step 176 are executable, the input/outputoperation control part 134 start print processing and notifies eachdevice of the status change of the print device (e.g., a change fromwaiting status to working status) (ST178).

Next, the input/output operation control part 134 sets output procedureparameters corresponding to a specified output style (ST179), selects apaper feed source where specified output media are set (ST180), and alsosets image processing parameters corresponding to specified imageattributes (ST181). Print processing is then started.

Upon completion of processing for one page (ST182), the input/outputoperation control part 134 performs FILL processing (initializationprocessing) of a page buffer (which is a memory area secured in the PMshown in FIG. 4) to develop image data (ST183). The input/outputoperation control part 134 repeats this processing for all pages. Uponcompletion of processing for all pages (ST184), the input/outputoperation control part 134 notifies all devices of the status change(which is a change from working status to waiting status) (ST185), endsthe processing, and waits for a next print start timing.

If it is impossible to start printing in the step 172 or if there existsno print-waiting job in the step 174, the input/output operation controlpart 134 ends the processing and waits for a next print start timing.

According to the present invention, setting of control methods andparameters for reading images is rendered changeable for every one of aplurality of image forming devices or image reading devices connectedthrough a network or the like. As a result of this, there is anadvantage in that the efficient of image reading operation can beimproved to be suitable for various types of images.

According to the present invention, there is an advantage in thatimproved variety is attained in one copying operation and the throughputis improved, in an environment in which a plurality of digital imageforming devices, image input devices, and image output devices areconnected through a network or the like.

According to the present invention, there is an advantage in thatoperationality is improved with respect to various original documentssuch as a photograph document, text document, single-sided document,double-sided document, and the like, and the throughput of theseoriginal documents which are going to become more various is improved inan environment in which a plurality of copying machines, scannerdevices, and printer devices are connected through a network or thelike.

According to the present invention, input conditions such as a documentmode, density, and the like, output medium information such as OHP andthe like, and output style information such as double-sided and thelike, which are specified by a scanner or digital copying machinespecified as a master device, are displayed integrally in the side of adigital copying machine or scanner device specified as a slave device.Changeable conditions are thus presented to users. As a result, there isan advantage in that user setting operations in the image inputoperation in the side of the slave device can be reduced in anenvironment in which a plurality of copying machines, scanner devices,and printer devices are connected through a network or the like.

According to the present invention, when transmitting image data to ascanner or a digital copying machine specified as a master device fromthe side of a digital copying machine or a scanner device specified as aslave device, density information, document type information such as aphotograph document, a text document, or the like, adjustment valueinformation for gamma correction, and the like specified for everydevice are transmitted, attached to image data. As a result of this,there is an advantage in that an optimal output result can be obtainedrapidly in correspondence with the types of input documents such as atext document, a photograph document, a document having a strongbackground color, and the like, which are going to become more various,in an environment in which a plurality of copying machines, scannerdevices, and printer devices are connected through a network or thelike.

According to the present invention, when transmitting image data to ascanner or a digital copying machine specified as a master device fromthe side of a digital copying machine or a scanner device specified as aslave device, output medium information such as a thick paper,color-dedicated paper, normal paper, OHP, and the like specified forevery device is transmitted, attached to image data. As a result ofthis, it is possible to specify any of various kinds of output media forevery input device in correspondence with any of various types of inputdocuments such as a photograph document, catalogue, and the like.Accordingly, there is an advantage in that an output medium can beswitched in the middle of output, so that an optimal output result canbe obtained rapidly in an environment in which a plurality of copyingmachines, scanner devices, and printer devices are connected through anetwork or the like.

According to the present invention, when transmitting image data to ascanner or a digital copying machine specified as a master device fromthe side of a digital copying machine or a scanner device specified as aslave device, output style information such as single/double-sidedprinting, 90°-rotated printing, reversed output,descending/ascending-order output, and the like specified for everydevice is transmitted, attached to image data. As a result of this, anyof these output style can be specified for every input device incorrespondence with any of various types of input documents which aregoing to become more various. Accordingly, there is an advantage in thatthe output style can be switched in the middle of output in response toan output style request, so that an optimal output result can beobtained rapidly in an environment in which a plurality of copyingmachines, scanner devices, and printer devices are connected through anetwork or the like.

Also, according to the present invention, a plurality of input devicesand image forming devices are connected through a network, and any ofthe image forming devices can be used as a master device. If one of theimage forming devices is specified as a master device and the others arespecified as slave devices, the image forming devices are respectivelyassigned with different print processing ID numbers, in an environmentin which operation parameters of the image forming devices as slavedevices are set from the image forming device of the master device theimage forming device of the master device, and image data can betransmitted from the slave devices to the master device. Image datastorage areas which are respectively specific to the ID numbers aresecured in the storage device of the master device for every ID number.Based on the ID numbers, input image data is integrated and finallysubjected to print processing as one image file data.

Also, a part of input parameters such as a document mode,double/single-side, ADF/manual insertion, a density adjustment value,and the like, which are specified from the master device, can be changedin the side of a slave device upon necessities.

In many conventional cases, much time is required to input an originaldocument like the case of a color document, so that processing abilityof printing devices can not be sufficiently executed. However, reductionof the memory input processing time for image data leads to improvementsof copying throughput due to digitalization of copying machines.

Also, it has become necessary to respond to more types of documents, asapplication of color documents has being progressing and spreading.However, in general conventional cases of copying an document in whichcolor and monochrome documents are mixed or photographs and textdocuments are mixed, they are copied separately and users mixes manuallytheir copies after copying operation. However, by integrating inputtedimage data on a memory with use of a plurality of digital copyingmachines, documents in which documents of various attributescorresponding to the number of devices are mixed can be subjected toprint processing at once by one time of copying.

1-22. (canceled)
 23. An image forming method, comprising: providing afirst device; providing a second device communicatively coupled to thefirst device; reading, by a read function, an original document image;setting, by a setting function, a processing condition with respect tothe read original document image; processing and transmitting, by atransmission function, the read original document image read under theprocessing condition set by the setting function; changing, by a changesetting function, the set processing condition set by the settingfunction, of the original document image received by the other of thefirst and second devices, upon receipt of the original document imagetransmitted from the one of the first and second devices; performing, byan image output function, processing on the original document imageunder the processing condition changed by the change setting function;and outputting an image that has been processed under the processingcondition changed by the change setting function, wherein each of thefirst and second devices has a read function, a setting function, atransmission function, a receive function, a change setting function, animage output function, and a specification function to specify one ofthe first and second devices as a master, and the other one of the firstand second devices as a slave, and if one of the first and seconddevices is specified as a master, the read function, setting function,and transmission function are assigned to the device specified as themaster, and the receive function, change setting function, and imageoutput function are assigned to the other one of the first and seconddevices.
 24. An image read method in which a plurality of first deviceseach having at least a read function to read at least an originaldocument image, and a second device having at least a setting functionto set a read condition for each of the first devices, are connectedthrough a communication channel, wherein each of the first and seconddevices has the setting function and the read function, the methodcomprising: setting, by the second device using the setting function, arespective read condition for at least one of the first devices;outputting, by way of an interface, the respective read condition fromthe second device to the at least one of the first devices; reading, bythe at least one of the first devices using its read function, theoriginal document, based on the read condition supplied from the seconddevice; specifying a master by any one of the first and second devices,thereby to specify other devices as slaves; setting individual readconditions respectively with respect to the devices specified as theslaves, by the setting function of the device specified as the master;and displaying the read conditions set by the device specified as themaster in a form of a list in the devices specified as the slaves. 25.An image read method using a plurality of first devices having at leasta read function to read at least a original document image, a seconddevice having at least a setting function to set a read condition foreach of the first devices, and a third device having at least an imageforming function to form an image based on image data, on a medium wherean image is to be formed, are connected through a communication channel,wherein each of the first and second devices has the setting functionand the read function, the method comprising: setting, by the seconddevice, a read condition for the read function of at least one of thefirst devices, and individual image forming conditions for image data,respectively corresponding to the at least one of the first devices;outputting from the second device, by way of a second interface, theread condition to the at least one of the first devices; reading, by ascanner of the at least one of the first devices, the original documentimage, based on the read condition supplied from the second device;outputting from the at least one of the first devices to the thirddevice, by way of a first interface, the original document image read bythe scanner, together with an image forming condition of the image datasupplied from the second device; forming, using the third device, animage based on image data supplied from the at least one of the firstdevices, on an image forming medium, based on the image formingcondition supplied together with the image data; specifying a master byany one of the first and second devices, thereby to specify otherdevices as slaves; setting read conditions and image forming conditionswith respect to the devices specified as the slaves, by the settingfunction of the device specified as the master; and displaying the readconditions and image forming conditions set by the device specified asthe master in form of a list in the devices specified as the slaves. 26.The method according to claim 25, wherein the read condition is at leastone of density information, original document type information such as aphotographic original document, a text original document, or the like,image attribute information such as adjustment value information forcorrecting gamma, and the like.
 27. The method according to claim 25,wherein each of the image forming conditions specifies an imageformation on one surface of the image forming medium, image formation onboth surfaces of the image forming medium, rotation of image data,reversal of image data, and image forming style expressing descending orascending order of a plurality of pages of image data.
 28. The methodaccording to claim 25, wherein each of the image forming conditionsspecifies the type of the image forming medium.
 29. The method accordingto claim 25, wherein a condition specifying a type of the image formingmedium is output medium information including a thick paper,color-dedicated paper, normal paper or OHP.
 30. The method according toclaim 25, further comprising changing the read conditions and the imageforming conditions displayed in a form of the list.
 31. Animage-processing method for a system comprising a plurality of devices,each having a function of reading an original image and inputting imagedata, or a function of printing on an output medium an image representedby the image data, or both functions, the method comprising: designatingone of the devices as a master; informing, by the one of the devices,the other devices that the one of the devices has been designated as themaster and the other devices that have been designated as slaves;designating by the one of the devices, after performing the informingstep, any other device that is capable of printing images; receiving bythe one of the devices, by a first receiver, printer-performanceinformation from the other devices capable of printing images that havebeen designated; storing, in a memory in the one of the devices, theprinter-performance information received by the first receiver;designating by the one of the devices, after performing the informingstep, a plurality of other devices that have an input function;supplying, by the one of the devices, image-inputting parameters and theprinter-performance information to the other devices having the inputfunction and that have been designated, the image-inputting parametersbeing operating conditions; receiving, by the one of the devices, theimage-inputting parameters and printer-performance information from anyother device that has the input function, that has been designated as aslave and that has received the image-inputting parameters andprinter-performance information; updating, by the one of the devices,the image-inputting parameters and printer-performance informationreceived in the receiving step, for any other device that has the inputfunction and that has been designated as a slave; processing, by the oneof the devices, one-page image data that has been input to the memoryfor any other device that has the input function and has been designatedas a slave in accordance the image-inputting parameters andprinter-performance information updated in the updating step; andtransferring, by the one of the devices, all data to be printed to anyother device capable of printing images, when the processing stepfinishes processing the one-page image data for any other device thathas the input function and has been designated as a slave, wherein, foreach of the devices having the input function and designated as slaves,performing the following steps: receiving, by each of the devicesdesignated as slaves, image-inputting parameters and printer-performanceinformation from the master; registering, by each of the devicesdesignated as slaves, the image-inputting parameters and theprinter-performance information which have been received by each of thedevices designated as slaves; changing, by each of the devicesdesignated as slaves, the image-inputting parameters and theprinter-performance information which have been registered in theregistering step; supplying to the master, by each of the devicesdesignated as slaves, the image-inputting parameters and theprinter-performance information which have been changed by the changingstep; inputting, by each of the devices designated as slaves, one-pageimage data in accordance with the image-inputting parameters changed bythe changing step; transferring to the master, by each of the devicesdesignated as slaves, all one-page image data input by the inputtingstep; receiving, by each of the devices designated as slaves,printer-performance information supplied from the master; and printing,by each of the devices designated as slaves, all data which is to beprinted and which has been transferred from the master, in accordancewith the printer-performance information received in the receiving step.32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the image-inputtingparameters include image-attribute data, medium data and output formats,the image-attribute data includes an input-device number, a job ID, afile name, the number of pages, original size, magnification,color-or-black, format, density-adjusting mode, color-adjusting mode,editing mode, photographing mode and character mode, wherein the mediumdata includes thick-sheet data and ordinary-sheet data, and the outputformats include rotation output, double-side output, finishing andsorting mode.
 33. The method according to claim 31, wherein theprinter-performance information includes performance data, operatingcondition data, error data or output-medium data.